Employee Wellness, Inside CDCR Video

OEW supports staff during times of loss, crisis

CDCR’s Office of Employee Wellness (OEW) supports staff when incidents occur in the workplace or when coworkers unexpectedly pass away.

Two OEW employees responsible for supporting CDCR staff are Margot Charkow-Ross, a licensed clinical social worker, and Sgt. Joe Marchese. They know about the difficulties of working inside a prison since it’s where they started their CDCR careers. She began at the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison at Corcoran while Marchese started at California State Prison, Corcoran.

Charkow-Ross said it’s important to let staff know about OEW’s mission and the services they offer.

“It’s just to be able to let people know we are here,” she said.

Marchese agrees.

“I’ve always been passionate about helping my partners out because I know what they go through,” he said.

Learn more about how OEW supports staff in this video:

>> Learn more about OEW on the CDCR website.

Video by Richard Tan, TV specialist
Office of Public and Employee Communications

Read more Employee Wellness stories.

Follow CDCR on YouTubeFacebookX (formerly Twitter). Listen to the CDCR Unlocked podcast.

Related content

New parole agent shakes hands with executives during the graduation ceremony at the academy in Galt.

CDCR welcomes 40 new parole agents from class 2‑26P

Forty new parole agents graduated from Basic Parole Agent Academy class 2-26P the Richard A. McGee Correctional Training Center in…

Off duty and off site, staff from Pleasant Valley State Prison in Coalinga, California, gathered for the first cornhole tournament held by the Employee Action Committee in May 2026.

Pleasant Valley holds first staff cornhole tournament

Off-duty staff from Pleasant Valley State Prison in Coalinga gathered off-site for the first cornhole tournament. Organized by the Employee…

Chips and salsa booth at RJD.

RJD celebrates 2026 staff appreciation week

Richard J Donovan (RJD) Correctional Facility celebrated employees with a vintage-themed 2026 staff appreciation week. The vibrant staff celebration ran…

A professional speaks from a lectern during the Leading without a Badge conference for law enforcement agencies, led by DAPO.

Watch: Leading without a Badge Summit empowers staff

Law enforcement agency professionals from across the nation gathered June 12 for the Sacramento Regional Leading without a Badge Summit.…

Recently promoted staff members raise their hands to take the oath of office at CCWF.

CCWF hosts fourth staff promotional ceremony

Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) in Chowchilla hosted its fourth staff promotional ceremony in mid-May. The event celebrated professional achievements,…

A cadet receives the guidon for her company at the CDCR Academy on June 16, 2026, in Galt, California.

Academy news: Class 3‑26A cadets keep pace

At the CDCR Academy in Galt, Class 3-26A correctional officer cadets are hitting the ground running as they push through…